'The Appliance of Science?': The Theory and Practice of Crime Intelligence Analysis

Innés, Martin; Fielding, Nigel; Cope, Nina

doi:10.1093/bjc/azh053

Cited by 133 publications

(120 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Critics argue that the wizardry of predictive policing Brisks projecting the all-too-thinkable racialized and discriminatory policing practices of the present into the future^(McCulloch and Wilson, p. 85 [51]). The full theoretical potential of intelligence-led policing [70] falters on organizational, occupational and cultural barriers [6,12,13,22,23,71]. Nevertheless, and in spite of the demonstrable 'organizational pathologies' that intelligence-led policing entails, police are able to use technologies to legitimize 'going after the usual suspects' [21].…”

Section: Predictive Policing Big Data and Crime Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Policing, crime and ‘big data’; towards a critique of the moral economy of stochastic governance

Sanders

Sheptycki

2017

Crime Law Soc Change

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The paper defines 'stochastic governance' as the governance of populations and territory by reference to the statistical representations of metadata. Stochastic governance aims at achieving social order through algorithmic calculation made actionable through policing and regulatory means. Stochastic governance aims to improve the efficiency and sustainability of populations and territory while reducing costs and resource consumption. The algorithmic administration of populations and territory has recourse to 'Big Data'. The big claim of Big Data is that it will revolutionize the governance of big cities and that, since stochastic governance is data driven, evidence-led and algorithmically analysed, it is based on morally neutral technology. The paper defines moral economy -understood to be the production, distribution, circulation and use of moral sentiments emotions and values, norms and obligations in social space -through which it advances a contribution to the critique of stochastic governance. In essence the argument is that certain technological developments in relation to policing, regulation, law and governance are taking place in the context of a neo-liberal moral economy that is shaping the social outcomes of stochastic governance. Thinking about policing in both the narrow sense of crime fighting and more broadly in its Foucaldian sense as governance, empirical manifestations of 'policing with Big Data' exhibit the hallmarks of the moral economy of neo-liberalism. This suggests that a hardening of the socio-legal and technical structures of stochastic governance has already largely taken place.

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Section: Predictive Policing Big Data and Crime Controlmentioning

confidence: 99%

Policing, crime and ‘big data’; towards a critique of the moral economy of stochastic governance

Sanders

Sheptycki

2017

Crime Law Soc Change

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“…Such findings have been echoed by other scholars examining intelligence-led and analytic-driven policing. In their ethnographic study of four intelligence units from the United Kingdom, Innes, Fielding, and Cope (2005) 5 concluded that analytic functions within these units were, in reality, a repackaging of traditional policing data and information. The intelligence units examined attempted to lend a degree of objectivity to the products created as a result of an analytic process that lacked any true scientific application.…”

Section: Analytic Capabilities and Information Sharingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of people in information-sharing: perceptions from an analytic unit of a regional fusion center

Lewandowski

Carter

Campbell

2016

Police Practice and Research

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Information sharing research has largely focused on capturing operational practices related to the exchange of information. A noticeable shortcoming of this developing literature is the lack of scholarly attention focused specifically on analytic personnel. The present study employs semi-structured interviews with 23 personnel that comprise the analytic unit within a regional fusion center located in a large metropolitan area in the United States. Findings indicate that there is significant ambiguity surrounding the organizational and geographic audiences to which intelligence products should be tailored. Moreover, it appears information sharing is sparse and reliant upon personal relationships between analysts and external organizations. Lastly, analysts do not receive feedback pertaining to the content and effectiveness of intelligence products created. These findings may be generalized to other analytical organizations whose primary goal is to gather, analyze and disseminate intelligence. Action steps for policymakers are provided.

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“…This lack of analysis with regard to intelligence production has been echoed by other scholars examining intelligence-led and analytic-driven policing. In their ethnographic study of four intelligence units from the United Kingdom, Innes, Fielding, and Cope (2005) concluded that analytic functions within these units were, in reality, a repackaging of traditional policing data and information. The intelligence units examined attempted to lend a degree of objectivity to the products created as a result of an analytic process that lacked any true scientific application.…”

Section: Fusion Centers and The Sharing Of Informationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Law Enforcement Fusion Centers: Cultivating an Information Sharing Environment while Safeguarding Privacy

Carter

Chermak

et al. 2016

J Police Crim Psych

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The national network of fusion centers, of which there are currently 78 nationwide, was created in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and continue to play an integral role in contemporary law enforcement. Their mission, put simply, is to facilitate information sharing across disparate agencies and organizations. Despite a significant presence within the law enforcement landscape, fusion centers have received relatively minimal scholarly attention. This limited literature alludes to operational challenges and public concerns that inhibit fusion center effectiveness. More specifically, little information is known about how fusion centers develop relationships with external partners as well as institute mechanisms to safeguard against violations of individual privacy. The present research employs a combination of national survey data and three in-depth case studies of fusion centers in Florida, Nevada, and Michigan to provide initial answers to these questions. Implications for improved policy and practice are discussed.

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'The Appliance of Science?': The Theory and Practice of Crime Intelligence Analysis

Cited by 133 publications

References 18 publications

Policing, crime and ‘big data’; towards a critique of the moral economy of stochastic governance

Policing, crime and ‘big data’; towards a critique of the moral economy of stochastic governance

The role of people in information-sharing: perceptions from an analytic unit of a regional fusion center

Law Enforcement Fusion Centers: Cultivating an Information Sharing Environment while Safeguarding Privacy

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